China in Britain

From the Chinese New Year to the Olympics, it will be a six month China festival of 1,000 parties in Britain

You have just four days and then it begins - an invasion from the east, heralded by dancing dragons, throbbing drum beats and crispy spring rolls. Thursday is the Chinese New Year, and that will trigger a six-month festival of Chinese culture - the largest ever seen on these shores.

New Year's celebrations will take place up and down the country to welcome in the year of the rat. (Don't pull that face: to be a rat is a good thing in Chinese astrology; those born under the rodent are blessed with charm and taste.)

And as soon as the hangovers have abated, China Now will be launched, with more than 800 events planned across the UK as part of the run-up to the Beijing Olympics in August. So now you can experience China without the 12-hour flight and swollen ankles.

There is a huge range of exhibitions, performances and activities scheduled,